Team

Mary Pat Sullivan, PhD, MSW, BSW, RSW

Director

“I am a registered social worker and Professor of Social Gerontology and Social Work at Nipissing University. After many years as a social worker in geriatric mental health in northern and eastern Ontario, I completed a PhD in Gerontology at King’s College London (UK). My academic and research career in the UK and Canada focuses on the social context of aging and older age, including people’s experiences of living with dementia. My mother was diagnosed with young onset dementia when she was in her early 50’s. My family’s experience providing support and care over the years has influenced my own learning on how families ‘do family’ whilst navigating multiple support and care transitions.”

If you would like more information on my academic and research work, please see here.

Jen Gordon, MSW, RSW

Support Manager

“With roots stretching between Thunder Bay and Ottawa, I have lived in Northern Ontario for most of my adult life. I am a registered social worker and teach part time in the Bachelor of Social Work at Nipissing University. I have studied at both Lakehead and Laurentian University and came to RDS Canada from outpatient mental health services at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. In my professional career I have focused my work on the intersections between physical and mental health and wellbeing including grief and loss in the face of neurological changes. I have been working with groups since the early 1990’s and enjoy the connection and growth that happens within the group process. My own life experience, as a parent to an adult child with a brain injury, contributes to my understanding of how families can hold both pain and joy as they walk the path of life together. I look forward to meeting all those who connect with RDS Canada individual, family and group supports.”

Dorothy Larkman, MSW, BSW, RSW

Oshkabaywis

“Anishinaabe que from the Matachewan First Nation, mother of three, grandmother of five, sister and auntie. I completed an undergraduate and graduate degree in social work focusing on Indigenous ways of helping. Currently, I am working on my PhD with the University of Waterloo researching relationship building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples highlighting the Indigenous ethic of non-interference. As I teach in the School of Social Work, I can be involved with my home community while reaching out to other Indigenous peoples in their search for equity, social justice and balance.”

Veronika Williams, PhD, BSc, RN

Faculty Collaborator

“I am a Registered Nurse and Professor in the School of Nursing at Nipissing University. I completed my BSc in Nursing in the UK and initially worked in respiratory and general medicine, before continuing my academic career and completing a PhD at the University of Southampton, UK. Since then, I have worked as a researcher on several research projects in the area of ageing, digital health and long-term conditions. My research focuses on understanding the experiences of people living with long-term conditions, particularly in the context of ageing and dementia, and how we can provide better support for people and their families.”

If you would like more information on my academic and research work, please see here.

Ethan Hume, BA, MA

Knowledge Broker

“I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from St. Francis Xavier University (2023) and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Western University (2024). My academic research has focused on dementia care, particularly exploring how caregivers recognize and describe their available supports. During my undergraduate studies, I contributed to research on improving support for individuals living with dementia, which deepened my commitment to knowledge translation and community engagement. In 2025, I joined Rare Dementia Support as a Knowledge Broker, where I facilitate the dissemination of research into accessible and practical community resources. My work is driven by a strong commitment to supporting caregivers and families, aligning with the core values of Rare Dementia Support.”

Monika Krzywania,  BSc, MA

Research Associate

“I am a geographer with research interests in experiences of health and wellbeing and my recent work focuses on health inequities affecting rural and northern communities. As a PhD Candidate in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia, I am investigating ways to keep health services as close to home as possible for residents of northern Ontario. With an educational background spanning the biological and social sciences, I am excited to bring an interdisciplinary and place-based research lens to serve the RDS Canada community. As a passionate learner, teacher, and mom of two, I am inspired by the potential of academic-community partnerships to enact transformative change.”